Pneumatic valve-action.



No. 662,705. Patented Nov. 27, mo.

C. M. WELTE. PNEUMATIC VALVE ACTION.

(Applicatidn filed Apr. 12, 1900.: (No Model.) 1 3 SheetsT-Shaet l.

WITNESSES:

ATT EYS No. 662 705. Patented Nov. 27, I900. c. m. WELTE. PNEUMATIC VALVE ACTION.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1900. (No Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

ATTORNEYS No. 662,705. Patented Nov. 27, I900. C. M. 'WELTE.

PNEUMATIC VALVE ACTl0N.

(Applicution filed Apr. 12, 1900) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL M. WELTE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PN EU MATIO VALVE-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,705, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed April 12, 1900. Serial No. 12,558. Llllo modeLl To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL M. WELTE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, State of New York, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Pneumatic Valve-Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic valveactions for mechanical musical instruments, such as orchestrions, organs, and the like; and one object of the same is to render the valves more quickly responsive and effective than heretofore, so that the pipes and auxiliaries will have a greater proniptitude of speech, whereby more perfect orchestration can be effect-uated.

A further object is to so mount the valves which directly control the sounding devices as that they can be removed from the windchest for repair or renewal, this being done without disturbing any of the other valves or necessitating that the playing of the instrument be interrupted.

The invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view taken through a wind-chest, showing the valves and other accessories and the sounding devices. Fig. 2 is a section through the same on line 2 2. Fig. 3is a detail perspective view of a diaphragm-chamber and its supported valve removed from the wind-chest. Fig. 4: is a detail view of one of the diaphragms, and Fig. 5 is a modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspon ding parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the wind-chest of an orchestrion, organ, or similar mechanical musical instrument in which air is kept under pressure in the well-known manner, the air being led from the pressurebellows by a tube, such as A, and upon which wind-chest are arranged the necessary sou nding devices, such as B, according to the kind and scope of the instrument. Extending transversely of the wind-chest are a series of register-ducts 0, independent one of the other and communicating with the interior of the wind-chest by ports 0. The sounding devices or pipes B communicate with the wind chest by ports b.

Each register-duct C is closed by one valve D, the stem (1 of which is guided in a central guide-hole e inaset-screw E, which is screwed into a case F, fixed to the wind-chest. Said valve-stem d is also guided through a partition f, separating the case E into two chambers f and f f One side of the chamber f is formed by a flexible diaphragm g, which is secured to the valve-stem d by means of a button g. The other chamber is composed of two subchambersf f formed by a partition-diaphragm g attached to the valvestem (1 by a button g Between the button g and the screw E is confined a helical compression-spring E, which is coiled around the valve-stem (1. Leading through one wall of the subchamberf is a vent-orificef while a vent-orifice g is formed in the button g and adjacent diaphragm.

A duct 71 connects each chamberf by means of a tube 6 with the well-known tracker, over which a note-sheet passes, or with the keyboard, and a duct h connects each subchamberf with the tracker by a separate tube 6, while a short duct It connects each subchamberj with the windchest A. Said duct 72, is closed by a flap-valve I, which is hinged or pivoted at t', its heel end being perforated to receive the valve-stem (1, around which is coiled a helical spring I, arranged between the heel end of the valve I and the diaphragm g. A button 1 fixed on the valve-stem d, holds the heel end of the valve against the said spring I.

The described valve-action of the register operates as follows: When air is to be let into one of the register-ducts O, the corresponding opening of the note-sheet registers with the duct h and the diaphragm g is pressed into the chamber 1", because as said chamber is open to the outer air there will be no counterpressure therein, some of the air from the wind-chest passing off through the vent g to the outer air. Instantly this takes place the valve D is opened and the flap-valve I also opened, so as to admit air from the wind-chest into the subchamberf and inasmuch as the duct 72/ is closed the said subchamberf will contain a pressure equal to that in the windchest, which assists in raising the valve and in holdin it raised against the tendency of spring E some of the air in subchamber f escaping through ventf When the register is to be closed, by shutting the air off from the said register-duct b the proper perforation of the note-sheet registers with the duct 7L, and the duct h is closed by the stock or imperforate portion of the note-sheet, whereupon the valve D is instantly closed, due to the action of the spring E. The closing of the valve D is permitted by the closing of the flap-valve I, by the open communication of the subchamberf with the outer air, and by the equilibrium of pressure in the wind-chest and the chamberf, caused by air from the wind-chest which passes through the vent g into the chamber f being there confined. In this way a quick opening and closing action of the register-valves D is obtained.

Each register-duct C, before ref rred to, is in common with a number of sounding devices B or rather with a set of valves 3', which control the ports of the sounding devices. The sets of valves are designated 1, 2, 3, and 4, (see Fig. 2;) but their number depends upon the scope of the orchestrion or other similar wind instrument.

In facilitating repairs or renewing the operative parts it is preferable to mount the valves and the parts related thereto removably. To this end, shown in Figs. 1 to 3, tubular metallic casings or holders K are fittedinto corresponding openingsinthelower part ofthe wind-chest and are secured therein by means of screws 70, which screw into ears 7a of the holder and into the bottom board 7c of the wind-chest. The upper ends of the diaphragm-holders 7e terminate in the partition-board A of the wind-chest, which board separates the pressurechamber from the reg ister-ducts. Wooden or other suitable cylinders or plugsLare secured in the lowerportions of the diaphragm-holders K by means of screws Z passing through the holders and screwing into said plugs, the upper portions of said plugs being hollowed outat Z to form chambers, over which are glued, or otherwise fastened air-tight, thin flexible diaphragms M. Registering openings m m, respectively, in the holders or casings K and in the walls of said chambers Z, lead to the tracker or keyboard by means of ducts Z and of tubes (not shown) in the well-known manner, while large diametrical openings m in the upper parts of the holders or casings K establish a through and through communication with the register-ducts 0. The valves J are arranged in the pressure-chamber of the windchest and are provided with valve-stems j, which are guided axially in thesaid holders or casings K through holes in closing-disks K ,glued in the upperends ofthe same, and ax ial guide-holes 'n in the set-screws N, screwed axially into the lower ends, of the wooden plugs or cylinders L. The said valve-stems are secured, by means of buttons m or the equivalent, to the diaphragms M, through which they pass, and said diaphragms and buttons are provided with vents m Coiled around the valve-stemsj, between the buttons m and the ends of the set-screws N, are helical actuating-springs N, which tend to close the valves.

In Fig. 4- a modification is shown in which the diaphragms Min the IGglSiiGl'fllllllllGlS O are not removable, nor are the valves J, the said diaphragms being, on the contrary, glued down tight to the woodwork. Also the setscrews N are screwed directly into the bottom board K. The valves .I of the sounding devices are controlled from the note-sheet and will operate only when the corresponding register-valve is open to permit air under pressure to enter the registerduct. W'hen the register-valve D is open, as shown, and one or more of the sounding devices in commen with the d not 0, controlled by that valve, are to be sounded, the perforated notesheet opens communication between the ducts Z and the outer air, so that the .diaphragms M are pressed down and the valves .I are opened, as shown. hen the note-sheet closes the ducts m, the air from the register-duct 0 establishes an equilibrium in the chambers Z by the air passing through the vent m", and the springs N close the valves. All the vents communicating with the keyboard or tracker are made very minute, the size of a pin-hole being sufticent, so that there will be no tendcncy of the confined air to raise the notesheet from the keyboard or tracker.

The described valve-actions for the sounding devices and registers are thoroughly reliable and practical and respond quickly when they are called into action. By arranging the direct valves 1 of the sounding devices, their diaphragms and allied parts removable, a great advantage is gained, inasmuch as the parts can be more readily and conveniently adjusted, repaired, or renewed without having to stop playing and the tracker-tubes do not have to be disconnected.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a pneumatic valve-action, the combination, with the wind-chest and a registerd not communicating with the same by means of a port, of a spring-actuated register-valve for controlling said port,two chain bers,a vented flexible diaphragm closingone of said chambers and a second flexible diaphragm subdividing the other of said chambers,one of which subchambers is vented,and the otherof which communicates with the wind-chest by means of a duct, a second valve, controlled by the valve-stem of the register-valve, and in turn controlling said d not, and d ucts leading from the subchamber connected with the wind chest and from the diaphragm-closed chamber to the tracker, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pneumatic valve-action, the combination, with the wind-chest having a pressure-chamber provided with ducts leading to the tracker or keyboard, and sounding devices mounted on the Wind-chest, of valves arranged in the pressure-chamber of the Windchest and directly controlling the sounding devices, and removable holders in which said valves are supported, said holders being provided with side openings which communicate With said ducts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneumatic valve-action, the combination, with the wind-chest provided with a pressure-chamber, ducts leading from the Wind-chest to the tracker or keyboard, regis ter-ducts, valves in the pressure-chamber for closing the inlet-ports of said register-ducts, means for operating said valves, and sounding devices on the wind-chest, provided with CARL M. WELTE.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. WHEELooK, M H. WURTZEL. 

